Log barker



J. OCKFEN June 4, 1946.

LOG BARKER Filed March l1, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JoH/Y OcffFE/v 3f f W00@ ATTORNEY LOG BARKER Filed March 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 4, 1946. J. ocKFl-:N 2,401,500

LOG BARKER Filed March 1l. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jo/-l/Y OCKFEN ATTORNEY Y J. ocKFEN June 4, 1946.

LOG BARKER Filed` March 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN OcK/-EN l ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1946 NLiaison4 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE LOG BARKER John Ockfen, Spanaway, Wash. Application March 11, 1943, Serial No. 478,745

8 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to machines of thatr kind i ing or peeling and subsequent cleaning of the barked surface of logs. Furthermore, to provide such an apparatus including means for the horizontal support and rotation of a log, and a mechanism coacting with the log supporting and rotating means that includes .a rotatably driven bark removing cylinder, and brushes to operate on the log after the bark has been removed; these latter parts being mounted on a carriage supported for travel along the log at a predetermined rate. in accordance with the rate of'rotation of the log, so that all bark will be removed and the surface of the los brushed clear as the carriage advances,

More specifically stated, the objects of the present invention reside in the provision of an 2 Fig.l 3 is a side elevation of the carriage with barker cylinder, brush, driving and control mechanism as mounted thereon for operation on a log. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the same parts. Fig. 5 is an end viewand partial sectional detail of the barker cylinder.

barker or log peeler of the above stated charac` barker cylinder, together with novel means for controlling the rate of travel ofthe carriage in Fig. 6 is a similar view of the brush construction.

Fig. '7 is a detail showing the character and disposition of a log supporting cradle. l

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of an alternative form of construction for the support and driving of a barker cylinder.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In the several views. a log that is being barked, or peeled. is designated by reference character L,

and the barking and brushing' devices, together with their driving and control mechanisms, are shown as mounted upon the horizontal. top, or platform of a carriage which is designated in its entirety by reference character C. The log L, as here shown, is supported horizontally and is adapted to be axially rotated by means best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein 3 designates a horizontal shaft, supported for rotation in suitable bearings 4 and 5 at the upper ends of standards 6 and 1; the standards being spaced and in alinement with the log axis. The shaft 3 is adapted to be rotatably driven by means of a large gear wheel 8 that is fixed thereon, and the gear 8 may be driven by any suitable power mechanism. As here shown, the power mechanism for this purpose comprises an electric motor 9 having an operative driving `connection with a countershaft I0 which its advancement along the log for the barking 351s mounted in suitable supports, parallel with operation and for a quick return to its initial or starting position.

Still further objects of the invention are to be found in the improved devices for supporting a log for removal of bark, and in the means for' 40 controlling the depth of operation of the' barking cylinder, and provision for effecting adjustment of the barker cylinder to best accommodate it to the diameter 'of' the particular log being worked on.

`Other objects of the invention are to be found the novel details of mechanismprovided for f control of rate and direction of travel of the carriage.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and .fother objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preshaft 3 and, in turn, has a gear wheel il `fixed thereon in operative mesh with the gear wheel 8. It is intended that a variable speed reduction gear mechanism shall be employed in this driving connection between the motor 9 andthe shaft 3 whereby the shaft 3 will be caused. to slowly rotate; such a reduction 'mechanism being designated at l2 in Fig. 2.

Fixed on that end of the .shaft 3 that is nearer the log L in Fig. 2, are parallel, spaced disks I3 and il of substantial diameter. Mounted slidably.` 1n these disks, parallel with the shaft I0 and at equally spaced intervals thereabout, are shafts it, each of which, at the end thereof which extends through and beyond the disk Il mounts a threaded clamp screw IB. These screws are radial of the axis of rotation of the shaft 3 and are pointed at their inner ends for a better holding contact with the end' portion of a log that may be located between the screws, as in Fig. 2. Turning wheels Ilia are provided at the outer ends of the screws to facilitate their use and operation.

Located about the inner end portions of the four shafts i5 are coiled springs l1 that are held 3 e under compression between the disk I4 and nuts I8 that are threaded onto the shaft ends. These springs operate to retract the shafts I to locate the screws close to the disk I4 when the screws are not engaged with a log, but yield to permit the shafts to be extended, after a log has been rolled to a position ready for mounting, so that the inner ends of the screws may be engaged with and forced into the log end thus to center it relative to the shaft 3 and to support it for rotation by the driven shaft 3. This provision for the -re'- traction and extension of the shafts I5 is quite desirable since it is not easy or practical to move a heavy log endwise for mounting by the holding machine on inclined bunks 23 in parallel, spaced relationship, as shown in Fig. 4, and the cradle bases 2| are' extended along the bunks, in position for support of the log while being barked. One end of each base is supported by a. xed pivot bolt 24 and the other end is supported adjustably by a hydraulicjack 25. The jack may be adjusted to raise the base and cause the rollers 2li-20 to cradle a log and to lift it clear ofthe supporting bunks za for rotation. It is intended that a log shall be supported only on one of these cradles at a time, and that they by selectively applying a hydraulic pressure medium to their jacks 25 shall be brought into supporting contact with the log successively and accordingly as the barker cylinder advances along the log, thus to reduce or eliminate as much as possible any radial sweep of the log in the vicinity of the barker cylinder that might result from the log being warped.

The carriage C comprises the horizontal platform 25 which is supported by a frame structure equipped at its four corners with wheels 21. The wheels at one longitudinal side of the carriage are flanged for travel on a supporting guide rail 23, thus to cause the carriage to travel along a at locations intermediate their ends, are bearings 4I through which the shaft 35 is extended. The

' two beams 40-40 are channel irons disposed with their open sides facing each other. Contained within the channels, for endwise adjustment, are extension bars 42-42. These bars have end portions extended somewhat beyond those ends of the` channel beams that overlie the log, and equipped with alined bearings 43 in which a supporting and driving shaft 44 for the barker cylinder B is revolubly contained. r

As will be seen in Fig. 4, the barker carryin frame is underslung from the shaft and one end thereof extends laterally of the carriage and overlies the log to be barked, as shown in Fig. l. The inner end of the frame has an extension arm 46 xed thereto on which a counter-weight 41 is I mounted for adjustment therealong toovercome,

definite course in a direction parallel with the log ,as supported for barking. 0n the platform is an electric motor 30, operatively connected to drive a line shaft 3| that extends horizontally and lengthwise of the carriage; this shaft being revolubly supported in bearings 92 on standards 33 that are fixed on the platform 28. Reduction to the platform, as noted best'in Figs. 1 and 4.

0n the shaft 95, a belt pulley 38 is fixed, anda belt 39 operates about this pulley and about the pulley 34 on shaft 3| to drive the shaft 35.

Swingingly supported from the shaft 35 in a manner kwhereby to permit oscillation thereon in relative to the axis, are angle bars 64.

bars as arranged between adjacent disks are in a plane that is perpendicular to the shaft, is a frame structure which carries the barker cylinder which is designated in its entirety by reference character B. 'I'his frame comprises parallel opposite side beams 40-40. Fixed on beams,

to any desired extent, the down pressure of thel carriage, whereby to best accommodate the barker cylinder B to the size of log being worked on, the bars `4242 may be extended or retracted in 'their mounting channel beams relative to the log.

Along theirinner end portions, the bars have rack teeth 43 in their top surfaces, with which gear wheels 49,-keyed on a cross shaft 50, mesh. The shaft 50 is supported from the channel beams 40-40 by plate brackets 5I fixed thereto. On one end of shaft 50 is a lever arm 52 whereby it may be rotatably adjusted, thereby to turn the gears 49 and thus adjust the bars 42--42 inwardly or outwardly as necessary to dispose the barker cylinder directly above the axis. of the 10g. A fiat bar 55 is supported across the frame upon the-beams 40 and this is adapted to be adjusted to bring an edge into locking contact with the teeth of gears 49 to retain any adiustment of the bars. Set screws 55. extended through the bar ends, may be tightened in the supports to retain an adjustment.

Revoluble on one end of shaft 44 is a fiat tired wheel 60, adapted to roll upon the barked surface of a log. This wheel is of the same diameter as the barker cylinder and serves as a. limiting stop whereby to determine the depth to which thebark surface is removed from the log.

The barker cylinder B is mounted on the shaft 44 between the outer ends of the extension bars 42 and 42. The barker comprises a plurality, here shown to be four, of ,spaced disks 63, all 'of' the same diameter and all fixed solidly on the shaft. Extended between the peripheral portions of adjacent disks, and in a spiral direction These zig-zag relationship and have their side flanges arranged to serve as mountings for the barker blades which are fixed to the bars by bolts 6B. 'I'he blade edges are slightly forwardly curved to engage the bark surface of the log as the cylinder rotates.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4, that the barking blades 65, as extended Ibetween adjacent .disks 53, are in' zig-zag arrangement by reason of successive bars being inclined in opposite directions. This arrangement of bars balances opposite end thrusts on the cylinder when in operation.

Mounted on the shafts 35 and 44 are' belt pulleys -10 and 1I about which belts 12 operate t0 drive the barker cylinder.

In most operations. it is desirable that the log,

clean of slivers or loose iibers. For this purpose, l I have suspended a second frame from the drive shaft 35 with one end thereof overlying the log. The frame comprises parallel beams 80-80, joined across their outer ends by a shaft 8| on which a rotary brush 82 is revolubly mounted. The brush 'is' equipped at one end with a pulley 83 alined with a pulley 8l on shaft 35, and belts 88 operate about the pulleys to drive the brush.

The brush as here constructed comprises spaced disks 81 connected by flat bars 88. Brushes are formed by bending short lengths of wire rope 88 into U-form and clamping these between bars 88 and'overlying bars 88' and securing by bo1ts8|. The ends of the rope piece are raveled out toform the brushes 80.

For the purpose of slowly advancing the carriage alongA the log for the removal of the bark by the action of the rotatably driven barker B and brush, I have provided a cable. 85 that is wound about a drum 86 that is securely mounted on the carriage. The drum axis is transverselybf the carriage and the cabley extends lengthwise of the carriage and its opposite end portions are extended from the carriage and are fixed to posts, not shown, at the limits of travel than shaft 8|. 'A variation in this reduction of speed may be, obtained by shifting the sleeves |25 end'wise, and this is here accomplished `by means best seen in Fig. 1, wherein lt-is shown that each sleeve is equipped with a central shifting collar |30, having rotary and vpivotal connection with the lower end of a rocker arm |3I. The arms for the two sleeves are fixed to a pivot shaft |32 carried in a bearing |33` mounted on the supporting shaft ||2. A leverI lor handle |35 is fixed to shaft |32 and extendsto :a position accessible to an operator. By upward or downward swinging of the handle |35, the sleeves |25 jwill be shifted accordingly and thus move the vis of the carriage so that by rotating the drum in opposite directions, opposite end portions of the cable will be wound in and paid out and the carriageV will be moved accordingly.

The driving means for the drum 86 comprises the followingmechanism: Mounted on thev carriage, parallel with line shaft`3| is a shaft |00. revoluble in bearings |0| at the upper ends of supporting standards |02,that are fixed on the carriage.' I Fixed on shaft 3| is a friction disk |05. Likewise, coaxially fixed on shaft |00 is a friction drum |06, of a diameter corresponding to that of the disk |05. The drum and disk are disposed on their respective shafts in the same vertical plane, and supported parallel with and at opposite sides of this plane and atthe same horizontal level are shafts |01 and |08. These two shafts are xed at their opposite ends in bearing |08 formed medially of the ends of vertically extending levers ||0. These four levers are pivotally mounted at their lower ends in blocks fixed to the platform. As will be understood by reference to Fig. 3, corresponding y, levers ||0 at opposite sides of the plane of the disk and drum may be swung toward or from each other. To control this swinging adjustment, I provide a central shaft ||2, rotatably mounted aboye the disk and drum in bearings ||3 at the upper ends of standards III fixed on the platform. Fixed on the shaft ||2 are vertical levers IIE, and links ||6 connect the upper and lower ends of theseA levers with the upper ends of the vertical levers ||0. A hand lever |20 is xed to shaft ||2 to rotatably adjust it in opposite directions, thus to cause an adjustment of the shafts |01 and |08 toward or from each other.

Revolubly mounted on and slidable along the shafts |01 and |08, are tubular sleeves |25, each equipped at its opposite ends, respectively, with friction wheels |26 and |21 which engage, respectively, with the adjacent side surfaces of disk |05 and drum |06, thus to cause the drum to be rotatably driven by the disk |05. In Figs.

shaft |00 will be caused to rotate at a slower rate friction wheels toward or from the center axis of the drum and disk to vary the driving speedV of the shaft |00 as desired,thus to cause slower -or faster advancement of the barker along the log.

The cable drum is supported and driven by a shaft |30 that is revoluble in fixed supports and at one end is equipped with a driving bevel gear |40. On shaft |00, a sleeve |45` is keyed for limited longitudinal shiftingwand on the opposite ends of this sleeve, bevel gears |46'-|l0 are fixed. These are so spaced as to adapt them to be selectively engaged with the gear Wheel |40at diametrically opposite sides to determine the direction of rotation of the drum and consequently the direction of travel of the carriage.

The sleeve |45 is' shifted and is held in either of its adjusted positions by the action of tapered slides |50 arranged at the outside of the two gears and alternately shiftable into and from holding position by reason of having pivotal connections as at I5 with opposite ends of a rocker lever |52. Lever |52 is centrally pivoted on a support |53 and has a lever or handle |54 extended to a position easily accessible to an operator. Movement of the handle in one direction causes one of the slides to engage the outer end of the hub of a gear |46 and to push that gear into mesh with the gear wheel ||40 and to disengage the other gear wheel |46. The swingingvof the lever to its opposite position reverses the position of the gears, and consequently changes the direction in which the drum is rotated and the carriage moved.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated an alternative arrangement of parts for the support of the barker cylinder and means whereby the barker cylinder is retained centered relative to the log. In this arrangement, paired links |65 are pivotally suspended from the drive shaft 35, and at their of a belt |12 which operates about pulleys on the shaft |66 and on the drive shaft of the barker.'

Extending downwardly from the frame |10 are legs |15 which are designed to engage with the opposite sides of the log being worked upon. Y One of these legs is adjustable along the frame so that the spacing between legs may be varied as needed to fit logs of different diameter.

It 'will be understood by reference to Fig. 8 that even though the log be warped or curved as it rotates, it will cause the barker to be centei-edl thereover at all times.

Assuming that the device is so constructed, its

7 use for the barking and cleaning of a log would be as follows: Logs would be moved into place by rolling them down the inclined bunks 23 and by lifting them clear of the bunks by the'jacking up of the roller cradles 2|. With one end of the log supported by a roller cradle, the other end of the log is then secured between the clamp screws of the rotating device'vas illustrated in Fig. 2. The rotating device is then set in motion; it being understood that if the log is warped, the roller cradle used at any time for the support'of the log will be thatA which will cause the least amount of circular motion of the log at the location of the barker.

The barker is then brought into position at that end of the 10g which is mounted in the driving chuck, and it is preferred that the barker supporting swing frame be adjusted in length` so that the barker will directly overlie the log as shown in Fig. 1. The motor 30 then operates through the line shaft 3l and belt 39 to drive shaft 35 and the belt connection 1.2 between theA 8 for axial rotation, a drive shaft axially alined with the log at one end thereof, means forrotating the said drive shaft, guides fixed in spaced relationship to the shaft end, a plurality of extension shafts slidable in said guides parallel with the drive shaft and equally spaced therefrom,

with ends extended beyond the shaftend to receive the end of the log between them, and log centering and holding devices mounted by the extension shafts.

3. A log supporting and rotating means as .re-

with said extension shafts t0 yieldingly retainy them in their retracted positions and which yield ,for extending the shafts 'for mounting the log shaft 35, and shaft M drives the' barker cylinder.

It will be understood that the depth of the outting action of the barker cylinder will be limited by the wheel 60 coming into contact with the log surface. 'I'he wheel 80 revolves freely on the log as it rotates.

f While the barker is in action, the driving connection betwen the shaft 3l and shaft |00 causes the latter to be rotated at a selected speed as determined by the setting of the friction wheels |26 and l 21; it being understood that' when these wheelsare in contact with their respective friction surfaces of the disk m5 and drum H08, they will drive the latter. which in turn drives the shaft Illll. To discontinue drive at any time it end -between them, and wherein the means for driving the shaft includes a variable speed transmission mechanism.

5. In a log peeling mechanism, a plurality of inclined bunks forthe rolling` of logs to position thereon, means for supporting a log at one end when brought to position and for axially rotating is only necessary to rotate the shaft M2 by the v action of lever arm I2@ to disengage the friction wheels l26 from the disk MI5. The drum @E is driven from' the shaft itil and in rotating in opposite directions, will cause travel of the carrlage in opposite directions, and it is to be understood that for the barking operation, the travel of the carriage would be relatively slow, while upon a return action it brings the carriage baci; to initial position. This travel may be made relativelyl fast upon shifting the friction disks i2@ farther from the shafts 3i.- l

The brush may be used if desired for the cleaning of all loose bers or splinters from the ,surface of the log.

With the device so constructed, it is apparent that relatively large logs may he easily handled and barked with speed and emciency.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

1. In a log barker of the character described,

jo, log supporting and rotating means comprising a .cradle arranged for supporting One end DOT- tion of a log for axial rotation of the log thereon, a rotatably mounted shaft axially alined with the log at its other end, means for rotating said shaft, guides fixed to the shaft end, and extension shafts mounted by the said guides and extendible becradling rolls for the support of a log thereon the log, a set of cradling rolls associated with each of the inclined bunks, a carrier for each set of rolls, and power devices for selectively moving the carriers to lift the sets of cradling rolls into position for support'oi' the log thereon for rotation.

6. In a log peeling mechanism, in combination, I

a traveling carriage, a log barking means operatively mounted on the carriage and movable thereby along a los. a plurality of bunks for the rolling of lo'gs to position for barking thereon, means for supporting a log at one end, when rolled to position, and for rotating the log for the removal of bark by the barking means as the carriage advances the latter along the log, and a log cradling means associated with each of the bunks and comprising a movable frame, a set of cradling rolls mounted in the frame, and means for lifting the frame to move its rolls from a position permitting the log to rest .on the bunk, to aposition for lifting it clear of the bunk for its axial rotation on the rolls.

7. In a log peeler, in combination, devices for supporting and for axially rotating a log, a carriage movable parallel with a log as supported by said devices, a driven shaft mounted on the carria-ge; a frame pivoted on the shaft and extended to opposite sides thereof, extension means slidable in the frame at one end, a barker cylinder mounted by the extension means for operation on a log supported by the said devices, means at the other end of the frame for counterbalancing the weight of the barker cylinder, means for adjusting and securing the extension means, and means for driving the barker cylinder.

8. In a. logpeeler, a barker cylinder comprising a mounting and driving shaft, three or more disks of like diameter fixed in spaced relationship on said shaft coaxial thereof, and a succession of bark chipping knives extended across. each of the spaces between disks in spirally inclined direction and having their cutting edges extended JOHN ocKr'nN. 

